The Alameda County Probation Department has received a $75,000, 12-month Positive Youth Justice Initiative planning grant from the Sierra Health Foundation to help improve services for youth in the juvenile justice system who have been in the child welfare system, experienced neglect and abuse or trauma.

Alameda County was one of six California counties selected for the grant, which sets the stage for the probation department to apply for an additional $400,000 to implement the blueprint.

The program is designed to involve other agencies, including the Alameda County behavioral and health care services, the district attorney, the public defender, sheriff's office and Lincoln Child Care Center, as well as the Alameda County Office of Education, East Bay Children's Law Office, BayLegal, the Juvenile Court, National Center for Youth Law, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Alameda County Social Services Agency, and the Family Partnership Seneca Center Family of Agencies.